Vietnamese Cookery Essay

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Vietnamese Cookery Louis Robles Chef Johansson CUL 2245 March 14, 2012 Vietnamese food is greatly shaped by influences. In the north's cuisine is greatly influenced by china from times when it was once under Chinese rule. The south being on the spice trade route from India is more influenced by Indian cooking and its spices. The most recent country to influence Vietnam is France, which ended its occupation in 1954. Despite parts of these countries found in many aspects of food in Vietnam, Vietnamese cuisine still has its own characteristics and regional styles. “There is a certain finesse, a certain quality to Vietnamese cooking that sets it apart from other types of oriental food: Clean, clear sauces; a minimum of fat; an abundance of vegetables; and very distinctive flavors.”(Duong) Two characteristics that unite the country are rice and the use of fresh vegetables and herbs. Rice, of course is a staple as it is in most Asian cultures but the Vietnamese also eat copious amounts of noodles. Noodles appear at almost every meal, as a bed for soups, in salads as well as in stir-fries. They can come made of wheat, rice or mung bean. The second important characteristic is the use of fresh vegetables and herbs. Fresh herbs such as basil, cilantro, and mint are served as condiments with any dish. Platters of fresh chopped vegetables like sliced chilies, cucumber, carrot, bean threads and bean sprouts are a staple in the north, south and central regions. Instead of dessert dishes, which are very uncommon in Vietnam, it would not be uncommon to have a simple bowl of fresh cut fruit. Vietnam's regional styles and the countries that most influence are very dictated by geography. The north and south regions are both sustained by their respective river deltas. The Red River Delta in the north and the Mekong Delta in the south. Both regions supply food, which makes

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